TOP TEN FINISHES FOR TEAM ROADRACINGWORLD.COM SUZUKI Despite a bout of bad luck on Sunday afternoon at Road Atlanta, Team Roadracingworld.com Suzuki came away with a pair of top ten finishes in the penultimate round of the 2007 AMA Superstock season. The field was surprised early Saturday morning when the regularly scheduled practice session was transformed into a qualifying session due to weather concerns. However, team riders Chris Ulrich, Gary Mason, and Robertino Pietri responded admirably. All three riders broke into the top ten with Californian Ulrich leading the way. In his best dry qualifying result of the season (Ulrich was on pole in the wet at Road America), he put his Pirelli-shod GSX-R1000 on the inside of the second row with the fifth-fastest time of the session (1: 24.012). Briton Mason joined Ulrich on the second row, qualifying eighth best on his Red Devil Energy Roadracingworld.com Suzuki with a fast lap of 1:24.514 around the 2.54-mile circuit. Venezuelan Pietri opened the 15-lap Superstock final one row behind his teammates, qualifying tenth overall at 1:24.877. Ulrich got off to a terrific start in the race and ran solidly inside the top ten. Unfortunately, a mechanical issue caused him to slow his pace by two seconds a lap and allowing five riders to erase the advantage he had built over them and to pass him late in the race. He still soldiered on to finish in tenth. Once Ulrich encountered his difficulties, Mason took up the charge and finished an impressive seventh at the checkered flag. Pietri was right in tow, but his race ended prematurely when a red flag was momentarily shown on the course, leading the reigning Latin American and Venezuelan Superbike champion to think the race had been called and he returned to the pits instead of securing what should have been another top ten result. At the end of the weekend, Ulrich said, “The race was great until around halfway and we had a problem that dropped my pace from the ’24s to the ’26s. I had a strong run going and had a second and a half gap over the riders behind me at the time. It’s still a tough pill to swallow. Gary stepped up and put in a strong weekend, and ‘Tino was doing well, too, before he backed off and pulled in because of that errant red flag. “I think all three of us are looking forward to going to Laguna and ending the season on a high note,” said Ulrich, who is sixth in the season’s points standings. Team Roadracingworld.com Suzuki will conclude the 2007 season in two weeks when the series returns to Laguna Seca for the finale on September 15-16. More, from a press release issued by Team M4 EMGO Suzuki: MAY EARNS ANOTHER PODIUM, CARDENAS FIGHTS FOR THE WIN AT ROAD ATLANTA Team M4 EMGO Suzuki completed a strong weekend for the squad at Road Atlanta with a pair of top-five finishes, including a podium result. Geoff May and Martin Cardenas both put in impressive efforts on Sunday, battling at the front of the Superstock and Supersport races. Georgia native May put his front row qualifying position to good effect in front of his local fans, powering away with the lead group in the Superstock final. May established himself a clear fourth late in the race and then was elevated to third two laps from the checkered flag when a rival tangled with a lapper. May’s third-place result was his fourth podium finish of the season aboard his Pirelli-shod GSX-R1000. He said, “I knew it was going to be a tough race going into it today. We worked really hard all weekend and found something this morning. I was able to run more consistent lap times and be right up there with the top guys. The tires were working great and I was really happy. I got my times into the 1:22s and that’s all I could ask for. I was just hoping if I stayed there — the leaders weren’t getting away from me — that I could maybe put a charge on them at the end.” Unfortunately, May encountered disappointment in the following Supersport race, running off the track early after qualifying second fastest. He fought his back up through the field but a mechanical problem prevented him from finishing the race. Colombian Martin Cardenas took up the charge for his teammate, scrapping for the race win. The former Spanish Supersport champion got another terrific start and waged a thrilling dogfight with the top three ranked riders in the field. He came home in fourth at the checkered flag after swapping positions multiple times on the final lap. Cardenas missed a podium result by just 0.134 seconds and was only 1.298 seconds removed from the win. “On the last lap I tried to pass Jamie Hacking in turn 10,” Cardenas explained. “He passed me again in the next corner and I got out of shape and almost highsided. In the last corner a backmarker was blocking the way and Roger Hayden came to the inside and there was nothing I could do.” Michael Beck earned his best result of the season at Road Atlanta. The young Californian concluded the 15-lap final with his first top-ten result of the season, guiding his GSX-R600 to tenth place. Team M4 EMGO Suzuki will conclude the 2007 AMA roadracing season in two weeks, as the series heads back to Laguna Seca for the season finale on September 15-16. More, from a press release researched and written for Honda Racing by Cycle News reporter and columnist Henny Ray Abrams: Zemke Third in Points Heading to Final Showdown American Honda’s Jake Zemke heads to the AMA Superbike Championship season finale in two weeks third in the point standings after tire problems struck in both ends of the Superbike double-header at Road Atlanta north of Atlanta, Georgia. The recently repaved 2.54-mile road circuit was brutal on tire life, with a number of riders having problems on Saturday. Because of tire wear concerns, Sunday’s 25-lap race was shortened by five laps. Saturday’s race was red-flagged when defending class champion Ben Spies crashed on the sixth of 25 scheduled laps. Zemke was fifth at the time. An adjustment to his Honda CBR1000RR didn’t work out as planned, and he wasn’t able to improve his position. He finished sixth. The pace on Sunday was faster than it had been on Saturday. Zemke gated well, slotting into third place behind the leading Suzukis. But tire wear again became an issue and he was relegated to fourth on lap seven of 20. Zemke fought back to re-take third for two laps, then fell a few more places to finish sixth for the second day in a row. In two weeks, Zemke heads to the final championship round at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, site of the U.S. Grand Prix, with a five point cushion on the fourth placed rider. American Honda’s Miguel Duhamel sat out his second race in a row after suffering injuries in a test crash here at Road Atlanta three weeks ago. His status for the final race at Laguna Seca isn’t known. Mat Mladin beat Suzuki teammate Ben Spies in both races. Jamie Hacking was third both days on the Kawasaki. Jake Zemke, 6th, Saturday we struggled with grip a little bit. Actually before the red flag came out, we were going pretty good, except on the very first lap of the race in the back straightaway kink I lost the front end and I lost it bad. And not just once, but it tucked and I saved that one and then it tucked really good. I’m really glad that Aaron (Yates) wasn’t right beside me because I’d just drafted before we bent it into the kink and as soon as I turned the thing in I lost the front. I was real lucky to save that one. So we made an adjustment to the bike in the red flag and it actually hurt us really bad over here in the esses on the whole first half of the race track. We weren’t able to do those times again. We definitely struggled for grip there. With the changes I had made, I just couldn’t get the bike to get through the esses. But the boys overnight came up with a good setting this morning. We were P-3 and we were able to do pretty consistent mid-22’s and thought we’d be good for the race for the podium there, which we were for a while. But I never foresaw those guys dipping into the high 21’s, which all the guys who beat me did. By the end of the race I had used my tire up pretty good. When Roger Lee (Hayden) came by me, I just couldn’t get off the corner to get a run at him. And the boys were working hard and we made a big improvement from yesterday to today, it just didn’t show in the results. Sunday Superbike: 1. Mat Mladin (Suzuki) 2. Ben Spies (Suzuki) 3. Jamie Hacking (Kawasaki) 4. Aaron Yates (Suzuki) 5. Roger Lee Hayden (Kawasaki) 6. Jake Zemke (Honda) 7. Tommy Hayden (Suzuki) 8. James Ellison (Honda) 9. Jake Holden (Suzuki) 10. Eric Bostrom (Yamaha) Saturday Superbike: 1. Mat Mladin (Suzuki) 2. Ben Spies (Suzuki) 3. Jamie Hacking (Kawasaki) 4. Aaron Yates (Suzuki) 5. Jake Zemke (Honda) 6. Roger Lee Hayden (Kawasaki) 7. Matt Lynn (MV) 8. Jake Holden (Suzuki) 9. Luca Scassa (MV) 10. Ben Thompson (Suzuki) Championship Standings: 1. Mat Mladin (Suzuki) 618 2. Ben Spies (Suzuki) 615 3. Jake Zemke (Honda) 441 4. Aaron Yates (Suzuki) 436 5. Tommy Hayden (Suzuki) 429 6. Jamie Hacking (Kawasaki) 403 7. Miguel Duhamel (Honda) 360 8. Roger Hayden (Kawasaki) 344 9. Eric Bostrom (Yamaha) 336 10. Jason DiSalvo (Yamaha) 335 More, from a press release issued by Robertino Pietri’s publicist: En la categoría Superstock del circuito AMA Superbike de los Estados Unidos PIETRI TERMINÓ NOVENO EN ROAD ATLANTA En una carrera llena de confusión por un error técnico, el criollo logró mantenerse décimo en la tabla general. El piloto venezolano Robertino Pietri fue el noveno en cruzar la bandera de cuadros en la décima válida del torneo AMA Pro en la categoría Superstock. Pietri, dos vueltas antes de finalizar la carrera, marchaba firme en el noveno lugar. Pero al entrar a la vuelta siguiente, salió una bandera roja lo cual hizo que él, junto a otros competidores bajaran la velocidad, siguiendo el reglamento. Cuando Pietri da otra vuelta al circuito y pasa por la recta principal se da cuenta que la bandera de cuadros está siendo ondeada, generando una gran confusión. El criollo pasó de doceavo en ese momento. El anzotiguense junto a los otros pilotos que bajaron la velocidad hicieron el reclamo en la secretaría de carrera y después de varios minutos recibieron una respuesta. Lo sucedido fue que la bandera roja fue ondeada por error, lo que hizo que los representantes de AMA tomaran como el resultado final de la válida los puestos en que iban los competidores en la vuelta anterior al incidente, lo que colocó a Pietri en la novena casilla. “Me siento satisfecho conmigo mismo porque hicimos una buena carrera pero a la vez me causa frustración porque sino hubiese existido esa bandera roja yo creo que hubiese sido capaz de pasar a otros pilotos y lograr terminar al menos séptimo” afirmó el venezolano, quien dentro de quince días disputará la última válida del campeonato en Laguna Seca. Con este resultado, Pietri se mantiene en la décima posición del torneo con 134 unidades acumuladas. El piloto norteamericano Ben Spies, logró ganar esta válida y así, con todavía una carrera por realizarse, conquista matemáticamente el campeonato de la categoría Superstock. More, from a press release issued by Martin Cardenas’ publicist: Exitoso fin de semana en la pista para el equipo M4 EMGO Suzuki en Road Atlanta. VIERNES El Colombiano Martin Cárdenas estuvo de Nuevo entre los mejores pilotos de la categoría en Formula Xtreme sin tener importancia su falta de experiencia en pistas americanas. El excampeon de Supersport lucho adelante con los mejores pilotos durante la sesión de clasificación de Formula Xtreme el viernes en la tarde y termino asegurándose una posición en la primera fila de la grilla para la carrera del sábado con el cuarto mejor tiempo de la categoría 1:24.881. En la practica de Supersport su compañero de equipo May estuvo entre los primeros diez, consiguiendo el mejor décimo tiempo de la sesión en 1:26.342. Cárdenas estuvo muy cerca de el consiguiendo el mejor onceavo tiempo de la sesión en 1:26.445. El sábado de nuevo Cárdenas tratara de subir de nuevo al podio de Formula Xtreme. SABADO El colombiano Martin Cárdenas de Nuevo nos demostró que es uno de los más competitivos en la categoría de Formula Xtreme, llevando su Pirelli-shod GSX-R600 hasta la quinta posición cuando paso por la bandera de cuadros al finalizar la carrera de 13 vueltas. Es la cuarta vez que el expiloto de factoría del campeonato mundial de 250cc termina una carrera de Formula Xtreme entre los primeros cinco desde que ingreso al equipo M4 EMGO Suzuki. Cárdenas y Michael Beck empezaran la carrera de Supersport una fila detrás de May en la grilla de esta forma los tres pilotos del equipo M4 EMGO Suzuki en las GSX-R600´s consiguieron posiciones entre los primeros ocho. Cárdenas fue el quinto mejor con un tiempo de 1:25.724 mientras que Beck estuvo un poco mas atrás con el mejor octavo tiempo en 1:25.985. DOMINGO De nuevo Martin estuvo impresionante en la carrera de Supersport luchando adelante con el grupo que lideraba la carrera. Durante la carrera de Supersport su compañero de equipo May se salio de la pista y trato de remontar, pero un problema mecánico no le permitió terminar la carrera. Martin Cárdenas se encargo de ponerle sus máximos esfuerzo para conseguir ganar la carrera. El excampeon colombiano de Supersport tuvo una magnifica largada de nuevo y tuvo una excitante lucha con los tres mejores pilotos en la pista. Cuando paso por la bandera de cuadros quedo de cuarto después de múltiples adelantamientos y cambios de posición hasta la ultima vuelta de la carrera. Cárdenas no subió al podio por tan solo 0.134 segundos y estuvo a tan solo 1.298 segundos de la Victoria. “En la ultima vuelta trate de pasarme a Jamie Hacking en la curva 10,” Martin explica. “El me paso de nuevo en la siguiente curva y cometí un leve error y casi un highsided. En la ultima curva otro piloto me bloquio un poco el camino y Roger Hayden llego por dentro y ya no había nada mas que hacer.” El equipo M4 EMGO Suzuki terminara su temporada de carreras del AMA en dos semanas, regresando de nuevo a Laguna Seca del 15-16 de septiembre a disputar la última carrera de campeonato 2007. More, from a press release issued by Monster Energy Kawasaki: Monster Energy Kawasaki Earns Double Podium in AMA Supersport Hacking Impresses with Another AMA Superbike Podium BRASELTON, Ga. Monster Energy Kawasaki riders Jamie Hacking and Roger Hayden took second and third in the AMA Supersport race at Road Atlanta in Braselton, Ga. Hacking claimed his second AMA Superbike podium of the weekend during the second race of this doubleheader weekend. The AMA Supersport race was exciting from start to finish as Hacking battled back and forth for the lead during the majority of the 15-lap race. With only a few laps left, he was unable to regain the lead but finished with a hard-fought second place. “We got a decent start,” said Hacking. “I saw first place starting to move away and I knew I had to stay close. The bike was running really well, with good top speed, and I managed to close in on him. I got kind of held up and he pulled a little bit of a gap on me. We gained a few points on Roger and I’m looking forward to Laguna Seca.” Teammate Hayden got a mid-pack start and once he got past fourth place, he rode hard to catch the front pack of riders. With two laps to go and the championship on the line, he made a remarkable pass to finish third on the last turn before the checkered flag. “Once I got some clear laps in front of me, I was able to start chasing down the leaders,” said Hayden. “I need to get a better start because I can’t always depend on getting a bad start and being able to make it up to the front. If I get a good start, I know I can win.’ Going into the final round, Hayden maintains his lead for the championship, while Hacking sits in second, just nine points behind. Attack Kawasaki’s Steve Rapp finished the race in seventh, while teammate Ben Attard worked his way up from 23rd to finish in 11th place. “In the supersport race, if you get a bad start then it’s hard to make up a lot of ground if you get stuck behind slower riders,” said Rapp. “It’s hard to make up time in the straight sections when you don’t have a draft. I’m looking forward to Laguna. I finished well in July and hopefully that will carry over into the last race.” After finishing yesterday’s AMA Superbike race on the box, Hacking continued with an impressive race on Sunday. Starting on the grid in 10th, he managed to come across the first lap in sixth. After making a few clean passes, Hacking rode to his fifth AMA Superbike podium. “To have two consecutive podiums in the same weekend, it really shows that our consistency is getting a lot better,” said Hacking. “Each weekend, the bike is staying close to the same with few changes at each track. I am getting really comfortable out there.” Hayden also put in an impressive race aboard his Kawasaki ZX-10R after starting ninth. He worked his way up to sixth place, and during the final lap, made a smooth pass to round out the top-five. The final round of the AMA Superbike Championship is set for September 15-16 at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, Calif. For the most recent Kawasaki racing action, interviews and more visit www.kawasaki.com/racing AMA Superbike Championship Road Atlanta Braselton, Ga. September 2, 2007 AMA Supersport Results 1. Joshua Hayes, Gulfport, Miss., Honda 2. JAMIE HACKING, DENVER, N.C., MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI 3. ROGER HAYDEN, OWENSBORO, KY., MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI 4. Martin Cardenas, Miami, Fla., Suzuki 5. Josh Herrin, Dublin, Ga., Yamaha 6. Blake Young, Madison, Wis., Suzuki 7. STEVE RAPP, MANHATTAN BEACH, CALIF., ATTACK KAWASAKI 8. Chris Peris, Calgary, Canada, Yamaha 9. Cory West, Eureka Springs, Ariz., Yamaha 10. Michael Beck, Simi Valley, Calif., Suzuki 11. BEN ATTARD, MURRIETA, CALIF., ATTACK KAWASAKI AMA Supersport Standings 1. ROGER HAYDEN, OWENSBORO, KY., MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI, 271 2. JAMIE HACKING, DENVER, N.C., MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI, 262 3. Joshua Hayes, Gulfport, Miss., Honda, 260 4. STEVE RAPP, MANHATTAN BEACH, CALIF., ATTACK KAWASAKI, 226 5. Tommy Hayden, Owensboro, Ky., Suzuki, 193 6. Blake Young, Madison, Wis., Suzuki, 187 7. Geoff May, Gainsville, Ga., Suzuki, 179 8. Josh Herrin, Dublin, Ga., Yamaha, 145 9. BEN ATTARD, MURIETTA, CALIF., ATTACK KAWASAKI, 151 10. Aaron Gobert, Murrieta, Calif., Honda, 150 AMA Superbike Results, Race Two 1. Mathew Mladin, Henderson, Nev., Suzuki 2. Ben Spies, Longview, Texas, Suzuki 3. JAMIE HACKING, DENVER, N.C., MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI 4. Aaron Yates, Milledgeville, Ga., Suzuki 5. ROGER HAYDEN, OWENSBORO, KY., MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI 6. Jake Zemke, Paso Robles, Calif., Honda 7. Tommy Hayden, Owensboro, Ky., Suzuki 8. James Ellison, Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif., Honda 9. Jake Holden, Eatonville, Wash., Suzuki 10. Eric Bostrom, Malibu, Calif., Yamaha AMA Superbike Standings 1. Mathew Mladin, Henderson, Nev., Suzuki, 618 2. Ben Spies, Longview, Texas, Suzuki, 615 3. Jake Zemke, Paso Robles, Calif., Honda, 441 4. Aaron Yates, Milledgeville, Ga., Suzuki, 436 5. Tommy Hayden, Owensboro, Ky., Suzuki, 429 6. JAMIE HACKING, DENVER, N.C., MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI, 403 7. Miguel Duhamel, Las Vegas, Nev., Honda, 360 8. ROGER HAYDEN, OWENSBORO, KY., MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI, 344 9. Eric Bostrom, Las Vegas, Nev., Yamaha, 336 10. Jason Disalvo, Stafford, N.Y., Yamaha, 335